New specialist youth cops to tackle teenage crime
YOUNG gang members and thugs who commit violent home invasions and carjackings will be targeted by 42 new Youth Specialist Officers.
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VICTORIA Police will on Monday begin a drive to recruit 42 Youth Specialist Officers to tackle youth gang crimes such as violent home invasions and carjackings which have plagued the state for two years.
The first eight YSOs are due to deploy in the northwest metropolitan region in July, and the rest by year’s end.
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Commander Stuart Bateson, of the Communities Division, said: “The YSOs will be responsible for providing a targeted and co-ordinated response to young people who commit high-impact crimes such as aggravated burglaries and carjackings.”
Victoria Police expects 13 YSOs will be based in the northwest metro region, nine in the southern metro region, and 10 each in the eastern and western regions.
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Cdr Bateson said: “While we know the overall number of young offenders is declining, we recognise there are still a small number committing serious crimes. They (the YSOs) will complement the existing role of the youth resource officers, proactive police members that focus on early intervention and prevention.
“The YSOs will develop evidence-based approaches to inform how police respond to high-impact youth offending. They’ll serve as experts and work with police … to adapt and respond to changing patterns of offending.”
Youth workers from the Department of Health and Human Services will work closely with the YSOs, along with staff from the courts and youth service organisations.
In 2016 and 2017, Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton hosted summits of experts in an attempt to address the state’s youth crime problem.
According to Crime Statistics Agency Victoria data, 12,237 offenders aged 10-19 committed at least one crime from July 2016 to June 2017.
Police Minister Lisa Neville said: “These new youth specialist officers will provide a targeted response to reduce serious youth offending and those causing harm in the community.
“This new role will ensure Victoria Police can better respond to the youth crimes that will not be tolerated in our state, such as aggravated burglaries and carjackings.”
Families and Children Minister Jenny Mikakos added: “Tackling youth crime requires a whole of government approach. That’s why we’re investing in new police and specialist roles so they can best deal with young people.”